“Great Quotes by Pastor Ron Hembree”
NOTE: All quotations in this 4-page handout (prepared by Darryl Eberhart, Editor of ETI & TTT newsletters) were selected from Ron Hembree’s book, “A Daily Joy: A Quick Study Guide Through God’s Word” (2000). All emphasis and all editorial comments are by Darryl Eberhart (Website: www.toughissues.org). // October 10, 2009
“God gives His children a chance to start over when
they turn to Him. …God also gives the strength needed so we can
make correction and lasting change.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 6)
“Sin is disobeying
the revealed Word of God. …Sin is placing our will above God’s.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 7)
Ed. comment to the
preceding quote: Studying the Bible will reveal our sins to
us, showing us precisely where we are disobeying God’s Word! Studying the Bible will also help us to know God’s will for our lives!
“While God is exceedingly patient, there is an end to His endurance of evil.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 8)
“We need not fear because God is still on the throne. He knows how to stop those who continue to violate His will and ways.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 9)
“Sin’s seeds always bloom, shortening the quality and quantity of our lives.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 9)
“His [Ed.: i.e., God’s] ‘chosen’ people were to live by God’s laws and prove that lifestyle to be the highest, healthiest, and holiest way to live. They would also be given the awesome responsibility of communicating these laws to the whole world.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 10)
“God uses imperfect people to do His perfect work; we need only respond rightly to His discipline.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 10)
“Sin, stripped of its shiny veneer, is raw, rotten, and dehumanizing. …We must run from sin and never look back.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 12)
“Our faith will be tested, but if we go to the wall with God, we find He always provides a way out. …Testing strengthens our faith, making us ready for what the future holds.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 12)
“…We bring great pain to ourselves when we refuse to wait on God.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 16)
“Pain and alienation always follow disobedience [Ed.: to God], putting distance between God and us, and [Ed.: between] others and us.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 16)
“Our will must be broken if we are to accomplish God’s will. …We can only be changed when we submit totally to the will of God.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 18)
“Our words can incite others to destructive behavior; we must be careful what we say.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 19)
“We must not accept the world as it is, but challenge and change it. …Challenge and change MUST be accomplished in God’s way and in God’s time.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 25)
“Total dedication to God’s way MUST be made, or we will lose the deadly battle.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 26)
“There is a time to pray and a time to act; we must know which to do and when. …Prayer is a filling station, not a terminal point.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 30)
“When Moses delivered the Ten Commandments from Mount Sinai, it was the start of a new era. The light of truth and justice was snapped on. The world would never be the same. We were no longer in the dark as to what God expected of us. No longer could man claim ignorance to cover his misdeeds. God’s law was clearly spelled out. The Ten Commandments have stood the test of time, for they clearly outline what God expects of us and the principles needed for a safe society. God’s Word says these laws are not only written down, but are also indelibly stamped on the human heart. All of nature speaks of the wisdom of these sacred laws.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; Page32)
“We are
to influence the world, not let the world influence us.” – Ron Hembree
(“A Daily Joy”; 2000; P. 33)
“Faithfully following God’s laws protects us from the evil
one and assures success.” –
Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”;
2000; Page 33)
“God’s Word must have prominence in our lives. The words of Moses [Ed.: i.e., the words given to Moses from God] were put in the Ark of the Covenant to show the importance that God places on His Word.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 34)
“Dignity is demanded when we come before
God. …While we are created in His [Ed.: i.e., God’s] image, we
are obviously not His equal. Therefore we must approach God with the respect
and reverence due Him.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 35)
“Faith is more than what we say, think, and feel;
it is what we do.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; Page 38)
“It is a wise society that takes God’s Word as the basis for justice; a foolish country ignores it. Modern society is now witnessing the tragic consequences when men throw out God’s Word or simply ignore it.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 63)
“God’s
laws are designed to keep us from things that will destroy
us. They are exceedingly fair and wise, based not on emotion but on
righteousness. The fact is that we could not exist as a society without
God’s wise safeguards. Rather than resent His laws, we should embrace
them.” – Ron
Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 71)
“It is urgent that we defend right, or wrong will prevail.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 72)
“God shares His glory with no man [Ed.: and with no woman, including the blessed Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ’s earthly (i.e., physical) body]. When Moses died, God buried him in a secret place so the people would not make him a minor deity. They were to worship God ONLY.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 76)
Ed. comment to the preceding quote: Mary, the mother of Christ’s physical body, was truly blessed of God; however, she is not a co-mediatrix or a co-redeemer. Jesus Christ said: “…No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” Christians should pray to God the Father in Christ’s name, as Christ instructed. They must not pray to Mary or saints!
“We are to completely defeat the foe. …We must never make peace with those things that would DESTROY our soul.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 81)
“Many battles are long and hard, but we MUST faithfully fight on. …We MUST not give up when we become weary.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 81)
“We must not fear overwhelming odds.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 81)
…Too
often, we fail to see the hurts and hunger of those about us and PERMIT
violence to continue far too long.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 111)
“God’s blessings only extend to the
end of our obedience. As long as [Ed.: King] Uzziah [Ed.: of Judah] sought
the Lord, God made him to prosper. Blessings are tied to our
relationship with God.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 155)
“God has no grandchildren. Each
person and [Ed.: each] generation
must make the decision about following God.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 157)
“Those well versed in God’s
Word can make a significant difference in our world.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 162)
“God’s Word gives light,
showing us how to walk so we will not stumble and fall. …God’s Word brings joy – not sorrow. …God’s Word helps us
know the kind of worship our Lord desires.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 166)
“Life’s greatest guide is God’s
Word. It never leads us astray.” – Ron Hembree (“A
Daily Joy”; Page 188)
“There are wonderful things hidden in the Bible…” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 204)
Ed. comment to the
preceding quote: We must read, study, and “dig” for those
“hidden treasures” in God’s Word!
“God’s Word is relevant to
all generations for all time.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 204)
“God’s
Word: [1.] Gives us wisdom. [2.] Teaches discipline – necessary for any
success. [3.] Instructs us how to live
on planet Earth. [4.] Helps us to use
the resources God has given us. [5.]
Teaches us discretion – the ability to say and do the right things.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 208)
“If we read and heed
God’s Word, [Ed.: then] we
will rule our spirits and greatly impact our world.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 210)
“…The [Ed.: Holy] Bible, although old, is so
relevant. It has proved to be a book for all times because of the divine wisdom found within its pages. In our
fast-changing world we now need, more than ever, the unchanging Word of
God. …God’s Word was ‘alive’ in the long ago and is still ‘alive’ today. The [Ed.: Holy] Bible is not only spiritual
but PRACTICAL, and only foolish people ignore it.” – Ron
Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000;
Page 213)
“There is a line
over which we must not cross, or we are forever lost. [Ed.: The prophet] Nahum offers no
hope of redemption for wicked Assyria, who had sinned away her day of
grace.” – Ron Hembree (“A
Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 278)
“Death and destruction
result when God’s laws are violated. – Ron Hembree (“A
Daily Joy”; 2000; P. 286)
“God’s Word defeats the devil’s devices. Jesus [Ed.: Christ] always used the SCRIPTURE in its proper context to overcome the
vicious attacks of the evil one.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 288)
“Error must be confronted with truth.” –
Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”;
2000; Page 290)
“He [Ed.: i.e., Jesus Christ] challenged the ideas and smugness of the arrogant religious leaders of the day who had so long distorted God’s Word, putting God’s people in bondage. The largest group of leaders feeling threatened was the Pharisees. They were masters at self-promotion and became livid when anyone dared disagree with their ‘exalted’ ideas. Jesus [Ed.: Christ] immediately ran into conflict with these pompous religious leaders when His teachings countered their man-made ideas of holiness.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 291)
“From the first, Jesus [Ed.: Christ’s] teachings brought Him into conflict with the Pharisees. TRADITION, for them [Ed.: i.e., these pompous religious leaders], was binding. They [Ed.: i.e., the Pharisees] preferred the oral teachings of the rabbis over the written Word of God. Jesus [Ed.: Christ] never hesitated to denounce ‘TRADITION’ whenever it watered down or undermined Scriptural principles. The conflict grew until the angry Pharisees demanded Christ’s death.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 292)
Ed. comment to the preceding two quotations: Papal Rome has also placed her man-made “traditions” over God’s Holy Word, the Bible. The Roman Catholic Church for centuries tortured and slaughtered millions of Christians who dared to criticize and expose her man-made “traditions”, her corruption, and her false claims of “temporal authority”!
“When Jesus [Ed.: Christ] cleansed the Temple [Ed.: in Jerusalem], He exposed the ‘moneychangers’ for what they really were. They were not there to help the worshippers, as they claimed, but were frauds. They only wanted to rip off those who had come to pray. The ‘dealers’ operated in the outer court of the Temple, the ‘Court of the Gentiles’. Jews from abroad were not allowed to use their own currency to pay the annual Temple dues. These greedy moneychangers fixed an unreasonably high rate of exchange, taking advantage of the vulnerable. Jesus [Ed.: Christ] overturned their tables and drove them from the Temple…” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 294)
Ed. comments to the preceding quote:
(1) The Jewish religious leaders greatly profited from this money-exchange concession in the Temple’s outer court.
(2) Religious “moneychangers” are operating in “Christendom” today. For many centuries greedy “Christian” (especially Roman Catholic) prelates and priests have been ripping off Christians through such unscriptural practices as “indulgences”, the sale of relics, prayers and masses for dead relatives, etc. Additionally, the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church, through the Jesuit Order and Knights of Malta, controls major banking, corporate, and media interests! Indeed, “organized religion” (especially the “Romish” version) is a very profitable “business”!
“Every person has been given talent for a special purpose. Jesus [Ed.: Christ] told the parable of the talents to emphasize our responsibility and God’s expectations of us. Every person must discover his ‘giftedness’ and use it to the limit of his ability. …Even though it seems long in coming, there will be a day [Ed.: when] we must give an account of how we have used what God has given.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 295)
“It is evil to refuse to use what God has given us. The man who buried his talent is called wicked and cast into outer darkness. God expects a return on His investment in us.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 295)
“Witnessing is more than just telling our story. Jesus [Ed.: Christ] commissioned us to ‘go and make disciples of all nations’. We must also mentor those to whom we give testimony.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; Page 296)
“Obedience is a learned behavior. Jesus [Ed.: Christ] said we are to teach all followers of Him to obey everything He has commanded. Obedience doesn’t come naturally.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; P. 296)
“Anytime anyone attempts to do something significant, there is a huge price to pay. The more important the goal, the more difficult the endeavor. This is especially true concerning the most important thing in the world: following God. Jesus [Ed.: Christ] clearly outlines the cost of discipleship for those who consider following Him. It is not a walk in the park, but [Ed.: rather it is] a fight to the finish. In our Lord’s story about ‘counting the cost’, Jesus [Ed.: Christ] makes the point that no one can follow Him unless he is prepared for all that implies. We must remember the world is a battleground, not a playground.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 310)
“Following [Ed.: the Lord Jesus] Christ
means:
[1.] Loving Him more
than anyone or anything.
[2.] Sacrifice:
When Christ bids us come, He bids us come and die. There is a cross
to carry and a price to pay.
[3.] Counting the cost.
Jesus [Ed.: Christ] encourages His followers to think things through
carefully before committing to discipleship.
[4.] Staying pure.
Jesus [Ed.: Christ] said salt is good, but it must remain
pure to be used. Corrupted ‘salt’ is worth nothing, and will be cast
aside.
[5.] Hearing Him. We must not
listen to the voices of the world but [Ed.: rather] attune ourselves to His
[Ed.: i.e., Jesus Christ’s] voice alone.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 310)
“Real conversion means a total change of direction and a desire to make things right.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 312)
“Tragically, many people prefer to believe in superstition and lies rather than truth.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 320)
“God’s Word strengthens and lifts us. [Ed.: The Apostle] Paul notes that we should always desire God’s Word. Scripture gives enormous strength and encouragement.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 341)
“We must not merely hear God’s Word but put it into practice. Like soap, God’s Word must be applied to be effective.” – Ron Hembree (“A Daily Joy”; 2000; Page 367)